Hermetic closure for cans, boxes, jars, bottles, and the like containers



June 26, 1928.

G. H. BENNETT HERMETIC CLOSURE FOR cans, BOXES, JARS, BOTTLES, AND THE LIKE CONTAINERS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed NOV. 23, 1925 June 26, 1928.

r e. H. BENNETT HERMETIC CLOSURE FOR CANS, BOXES, JARS, BOTTLES, AND THE LIKE CONTAINERS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FHTJB U form as described.

Patented June 26, 1928.

, 1,675,152 P ATENT o FicE;

enonennnnnnnr BENNETT, or sameness, nnerann,

HERMETIC CLOSURE non oans noxns, Jens, BOTTLES; AND THE LIKE CONTAINERS.

Application filed November 23, 1 925, Serial No. ?U,8 25, and in Great Britain' December 15,1924.

This invention relates to improvements in hermetic closuresfor cans or boxes of sheet -metal, also bottles, jars orother like containers, and has for its objectto hermetically seal in containers undera vacuum substances which are liable to deteriorateby exposure to the atmosphere, or which require to be protected against climatic-changes or'the attacks of insects. The improved. closures are particularly applicable for packing tobacco,

foods, delicacies and preserves. v 1

According to my invention a ring or band of rubber or other suipible elastic material, and of less diameter than the container-11s 'stretched around the month or lip-0t the container (or in the case of a cover or closure member of plug type on the spigot part thereof) and is compressed when the cover is applied and the closure effected, betweenjrims or flanges provided on the bodyand cover of the container. i

i In'onemode of carrying out the invention a hermetic closure is obtained by a thin ring 'or band of rubber or other suitableelastic materialandof less. diameter than thejoint to be made being stretchedand placed vertically over and around the mouth of the container '(or, in the case of a cover or closure 1 member of plug type, on the spigotpartthere- I of) so that when the closure member is pressed down, the rubber ring is squeezed between the container and a flange onthe closuremember, and caused to bulge outwardsfrom its middle to form a channel shaped packing. The section of the rubber or other elastic ring or band used mustof course be such thatit can be doubled and compressed into channel I may provide a groove around the lip or mouth of the container, or lll thl; case of a plug cap or-stopper for closing a bottle or jar or a lever lid tin the said groove is formed on the spigot part of the cap or stopper. When the thin rubber or other elastic ring or band placed in positiomone edge of it takes more or less into the annular groove,

and the bending of the ring in an outward direction at its middle ls-thus started. Further, that part of the container body (or'its I plug cap or stopper) on which. the ring or band is stretched is made somewhat rounded or convex in curvature in a vertical plane so that the ring or band is caused to assume slightly curved form.v By these means the doubling of thethln packing ring nto channel section When the lid orcover pressed down therein is facilitated,

The thickness of the stretched" rubbcr is such that" the 'rubbercanbe easily perforated by a sharp instrument when it is desired to break the vacuum and open the container.

To facilitatethe openingof the-,Vacuumized or other lVhen it is desired to open the the ring and thus break the vacuum by; admitting air. The lid or closuremember can then be easily removed.

In another form of the .closure intended. tor, cans or boxes With a cover or lid having .a skirt'fitting over the open top or mouth of the container,but applicable also. to cansor tms' of, the lever-slid. type, use a ring of rubber or rubber substitute which sfnotconr pressed into channelform when the closure is effected. In this arrangement the hermetic closure is obtained by meanso't a ring ofrub-,

t l e joint to-be made and .ofcirculai, square container, the tag is pulled, so as toistretch or like section, Which: is stretched overthe mouth. of the container with its" inner side seated in a shallow groove and iscompressed when the closure is effected between rims or flanges on thebody'and cover of the con- I tainer, Under the downward pressure of the lid or cover, caused by, the airpressureon'it, the ring s. pressed downwards and inwards on its seat. Preferably the cover hasa s mple horizontal flange, and-at the angleb etween. the horizontalflange and. the skirt of the cover isfiattened. or, provided with an inclined surface to. give a Wedging effect on the rubber ring; and direct pressure i nWard to game maximum surface contact on the: rubber. 1

In order to renderthe joint prodnced by my improved closures mechan cally secure, any su table lockinn meansmay be provided.

These means may, for example, takeithe form;

of clips or a band ofchannelisection fitte d on the rims or flanges of the-container its cover. In another-dorm, wherea simple flange is used on the. cover, the peripheral of the saidfiange is provided at .sev-

eral points with integral, lugs] or tongues which, when the container isclosed, may; be

bent-over and compressedby a suitable tool so as to firmly embrace the flangeonthe 0011- v tainerbody.

so I her or rubber substitute of less diameterithan ring orband before the lid is put on.

Figure 4 is an elevation, partly. in section, of aportion of a jar or bottle andits closure-member, illustrating on the left how the packing ring may be preliminarily doubled on itself before the closure-member is put on.

Figure 5 illustrates a closure-member with a simple flange. s

- Figures 6 and 7 show the invention. applied to jars or bottles with a plug-cap or sto per.

igure 8 shows the invention applied to a lever-lid can. I

Figure 9 is an elevation, partly in section,

of a sheet metal box or can illustrating an arrangement in which the 1o1nt1ng member is asolid ring.

Figure 10 is a plan view of a detail. Figures 11 to 14 illustrate means for opening the hermetic closure by a tag applied to the channel shaped joint ring.

"Figures 11 and 12 are respectively an elevation and plan of the tag itself;

Figure 13 is an elevation of part of a tin box, showing the rubber joint ringwith the tag in the position before the lid is pressed down;

Figure 14 shows the position when the lid is fully pressed down.

Referring first, more particularly, to Fig.

1, which shows the invention as applied to a can or box of sheet metal, the body 1 and lid or cover 2 (which may, of course, be of any convenient shape and size) may be solid drawn and thereby seamless. or made with soldered scams or otherwise made airtight,'. V

1t 1s probably the cheapest form of rubber and with the cover similarly constructed or as 1s more usual, solid drawn.

Around the extreme edge of the lid or cover and also a short distance below the lip on the body of the box, flat rims or flanges, 3 and 4 respectively, are produced by siiitable' dies. These rimsor flanges may be formed by pressing out a bead in the sheet material and then flattening the bead between suitable dies to provide a substantially horizontal effective surface; The lid or cover is made to fit snugly onto the body, the two rims or flanges meeting flush.

It will be understood that where in the form shown in the several figures.

course of this specification and. its claims reference is made to horizontal, by this is intended a lane at right angles to the axis of a round ox: since this is the usual posithereafter flattening the head so formed between suitable dies so thatit is given the In order to obtain a hermetic closure, a thin. ring or band 5, of rubber or rubber substitute, about half the diameter of the joint to be made, is stretched and placed vertically over the mouth of the container,

and rests evenly on the rim or flange 3.

The lidbeing pressed on, the rubber ring is squeezed between the two rims or flanges 3 and 4, forcing it to bulge outwards from the middle to a channel section. as shown in Fig. 1. Due to the tension on the ring. it

constantly tends'to open out, thus creating a large amount" of spring or cushion and the harder it is pressed down the more surface it covers. The packing ring may be a an ordinary rubber band, flat in horizontal section, which is stretched vertically around the mouth of the container (or in some cases the cap or stopper) or it maybe a thin rub 'ber'ring of cylindrical and tubular form.

sired width. which is preferablyequal to the width of the rims or flangesbetween which it is compressed. Y

Such a rubber joint-ring is designed to give the maximum amount of cushion with the use of a. minimum amount of rubber. In my experiments I have successfully used an ordinary thin flat rubber band or ring. and

ring obtainable. In order to get the amount of cushion and contact surface necessary to resist vacuum pressure, rubber rings of heavy square or round section have hitherto been used for glass jars. By my invention, however, a sound joint is ,made with a rubber ring costing only a fraction of those in gen eral use.

It will be understood that in effecting a. hermetiocl'osure according to my invention after the container is filled, the cover is slipped on and held in place by a spring clamp or a weight. On heatlng the container, air is forced out, and the clamp furnishes sufiicient pressure to prevent the air rushing back. 7 As thecontainer cools, a partial vacuum is formed, and the lid is held permanently secure. When the contents are susceptible to damage by excessive heat, or

again it'a full vacuum is desired, the

air is extracted by mechanical means, and otherwise the closure is effected in exactly the same manner as described.

T'o render the joint also mechanically secure, a protecting band 6 of channel shape is secured around the flanges 3 and 4- with its ends hooked together, or alternatively, clips might be provided adapted to grip the said flanges and'hold them tightly pressed together.

To open the container, the protecting band or clipsif any,is removed, and the rubber jointing ring is so thin that it can be easily pierced with the point of'a penkniie or other sharp-pointed instrument, allowing air to enter and thus breaking the vacuum, and so loosening the cover that-it may be removed without difiiculty. As an alternative, to facilitate the opening of the container, and to avoid having to use a knife to pierce the ring, the joint-ring is fitted with a pull-out tag, as hereinafter described with reference to Figures 11 to 14. ith the hermetic seal broken, the container remains intact, and having a tightly-fitting lid, it may be used to hold the contents as long as required. 7 f

The lid or cover may have a simpleflange (as in Fig.5) formed of a single thickness of metal, or may turn or bend the metal of the flange inwards again, as indicated at 7 in Figs. 1-4, so as to make the flange with a double layer of metal'and'with a rounded or beaded edge; and this inturned portion 7 on the lower side of the flange extends inwards to such an extent as to produce a flat surface which, when the lid or cover is pressed down, comes against thetop edge of the vertically-placed rubber packing ring or band, and prevents the said band or ring entering and wedging between the cover and the'lip on the body of the container.

Figure 2 shows my hermetic closure applied to a jar or bottle fitted with ametal lid or stopper, In other respects'the clo sure is exactly the same as described with reference to Fig. 1 and the same reference numerals are used in the drawings to indicate the same or similar parts inboth figures. I

Figure 3 illustrates a modification, according to which I provide an annular groove 8 around the lip or mouth of the container 1.. lVhen the thin rubber or other elastic ring 5 is placed in aosition, the lower edge of it takes more or less into the'annular groove, and the bending of the ring in an outward direction from its middle is thus started.

Further, to this end, the surface of the lip of the container above the groove .8 on which the ring or band is-stretched, although substantially cylindrical may be made somewhat rounded orslightly convexly-curved in a vertical plane, i. e., barrel-shaped as at 9, so that the ring 5 is'thereby caused to assume a slightly curved t'orm and is under greater tension atits central than at its end planes. By these means the doubling of the thin packing ring on itself into the channel form whenjthe lid or cover is presseddown is facilitated. a

The container and its lid shown in Fig.

3 may be made entirely of metal,or of glass or other suitable material, or part may-be of one material and part of the other.

Figure 4 shows a jar or bottle similar to that of Fig. 2 except that in this case an annular groove and rounded lip are propressed down by using a plain ring-shaped tool, whereby the ring 5 is doubled on itself, as shown on] the left side of Fig. 1, and is held in position by both its edges eugaging in the annular groove 8 around the mouth of the container.

Figure 6"shows a jar or bottle fitted with a plug-cap 201. sheet metal. In thiscase, it

S5. vided, as already described in connection will be noted, the annulargroove 8 is formed in the spigot part of the cap.

The same idea is shown in Fig. 7, but here screw-cap 10 is provided in place of a pro tecting band and for sealing the ar or bottle after the vacuum broken and the container is in use. In all these various modifications,

it will" be understood that when the closure is 'el l'ected the rubber or other elastic packing ring is doubled and compressedbetween the container and a flange on the lid or cover, as already more particularly explained.

Figure 8 shows the invention applied to a lever-hd-can, the ring 5 again in thiscase, when the closure is made, bemg doubled and compressed in channel section between the flanged of'the lid or stopper and the rim 3 surrounding the mouth of the can.

Figure 9 illustrates another form of cloless diameterthan the joint tobe madea-nd. oi? circular,square or llkG' section, which is" stretched over-the mouth oi? the container 12 and rests evenly on the rim or flange 13 with its inner side lying in a. shallow groove 14-. Preterably a ring of circularsection and of good quality rubber is used tor'this type of i the folds of the ring.

closure. By the downward pressure of the cover 15 after the-container has been closed under a vacuum the ring 11 is strongly pressed downwards and inwards between the flanges 13 and 16. It is to be noted that the cover is shown in Fig. 9 in its position before the container is exhausted, and it is not therefore fully pressed down.

The cover may have a simple flange, as shown in F ig. 9 or an inturned flange of the kind shown in Figs. 1-3. Preferably,.the

cover is made with a simple flange 16, which at the angle is made with an inclined surface 17 to give a wedging effect on the ring and a direct pressure inward so as to ain a maximum surface contact on the rub r.

The flange 13 on the body ofthe can is designed to act also as a stiffening ring to prevent dlstortion around the path of the o1nt.

The top of the cover 15 18 preferably dished. 1

The joint can be rendered mechanically secure b 1 forlnm the flan e 16. at several I e D I h I n )oints around its eri her with integral tongues or lugs 18, such as indicated inplan view in F1 10. Vhen the container-1s rlosed these lugs are bent over and compressed by a suitable tool soas to firmly embrace the flange 13 on the body of the container, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 9.

In the case of a lever lid can, the jointing ring is stretched on the spigot part of the lid with its inner side bearing in a shallow groove and is compressed between the flange of the lid and a rim surrounding the mouth of the can.

To facilitate the opening of vacuumized containers closed with a packing-ring bent and compressed into channel formas hereinbefore described, I provide the ring or band,

whether of the collar or flat pattern, with a metal or other tag having a shank which is inserted through a perforation in the ring or band and a head portion adapted to lie in The preferred construction and application of this tag will be readily understood from the following description and with reference to Figs. 11-14. The tag 19. which is shown by itself in Figs. 11 and 12, consists of a very thin T-shaped strip of metal or other suitable material having one end bent down, as at 20, and the other end 21 pointed and preferably corrugated to form a gripping surface forthe fingers. Just below its head end 20the tag is formed with a notch or slot 22 at each side. The tag 19 is fitted to the rubber joint ring 5 by first stretching the ring to about three. times its relaxed size over a frame. A small hole is then pierced with a needle at one point through the ring, so as to make an easy entry for the point of the tag, which is then pressed throughto the shoulder slots 22. On the ring being relaxed, the rubbercontracts dia nreter into these slots 22 and closes tightly around the tag. The tagged ring 5 being half the of the container, when it is stretched into lace on the lip of the containcr,,the rub er around the hole is still partly relaxed, and therefore continues to fit tightly around the tag. v position of the ring and tag before the lid 2 is pressed down. When the lid is fully pressed down the head end 20 of the tag is gripped between thefoldsof the rubber ring,

ber and presenting a surface substantially parallel to and adapted to be brought against said flange, an annular jointing member of elastic material with its outer periphery of lesser normal diameter than said internal member and stretched about the same, said external member. permitting during-its seating a compression of the stretched jointing member between its said surface and the flange of said internal member. a a

2. The method of establishing a seal betweenan internal member having a projecting flange and an external member having an end surface GOIIBSPOIldiIlg to said flange, by means of an elastic sealingmeinher with its outer periphery of lesser diameterthan said internal. member, which con sists in stretching saidelastie member and placing it over said internal member, and thereafter compressing said stretched elastic member between said surface and said flange while permitting it to yield outwardly to establish a further. tension upon its portion contacting said internal member.

3. The method of establishing a seal between the body and cover of a hermetically closed container, by'means of an elastic annular sealing member which consists in stretching said member to :increase its periphery, and thereafter compressing said stretched member parallel to its axis.

4:. Mean-s for hermetically closing containers having a projecting flange adjacent. the end to be closed, comprising a sealing me1nber of elastic material of greater dimension in the direction of its axis than in its own plane, said sealing member having its outer periphery of lesser normal diameterthan the end of said container t-obe sealed, and

stretched therearound, and means to com- Fig. 13 shows the held tightly against t 9 ge of said container. f

V 5. Means for hermetically closing exhaust ed containers of i the kind specified, ,said containers having a horizontal outstanding external flange on the body below the mouth, comprising a lidor cover having a depending flange orskirt adapted to fit 'ov'er'tlie open top or mouth of the container and having a horizontally outstanding fian'ge'at' its lower edge, and a jointed ring of elastic and compressible materialwhlch is placed with all its parts under tension aro'und the container and is compressed between the said horizontal flanges of the container and on the lid or cover to produce a hermetfc closure when the 11d or under a vacuum.

6. Means for hermetically closing exhausted containers cfthe kind specified, said con tainers having horizontally out-standing external flanges on its body belowfits inouth, and an external groove around the container immediately above said outstanding flange, comprising a lid or cover having a depending skirt or flange adapted to fit over the open top or mouth of the container and having a horizontally outstanding flange at its lower edge, said container being convexly and inwardly curved abovesaid groove to its upper edge, and a jointing ring of elastic and compressible material which is placed under tension around the container in said groove and upon said curved portion, and is compressed flat between the said horizontal flanges to produce ahermetic closure when the lid or cover is closed down under a vacuum.

7. Means for hermetically closing exhausted containers of the kind specified, comprising an annular jointing-ring of elastic ma-. terial and of less diameter than the com tainer, which jointing-member is stretched in a vertical position around the part where the joint is to be made and is of such form as to be adapted when the said cover is pressed down to be bent and compressed between flanges on the container and the cover to form a channel shaped packing.

8. Means for hermetically closing exhausted containers of the kind specified, comprising an annular jointing-ring consisting of a thin rubber ring, flat in horizontal section and of less diameter than the container, which is stretched in a vertical position around the mouth of the container; a groove in which a portion of said jointing-ring seats itsself; and horizontal flanges on the said container and its cover or closure-member, between which the said ring is bent and compressed to form a channel shaped packing when the closure-member is pressed down.

9. Means for hermeticallyclosing exhaustcover is" closed down ed containers of the kind specified, comprisimg an annularolnting inemb'er' cons st ng of authin rubber ring, flat in horizontal sectionand of less diameter than 'thecont'ainer,

which'i-s placed in a vertical positionon the container at the part where the ioint ifs to be made; agsurface convexly curved! on whfch'said jointing-ring is placed; a groove in which a portion. of said jointing-ring seats itself; andhorizontal flanges onthe body of the container and its closure-meniber between which the jointing ,ring is compressed to form a c'hannel shaped packing. 10. In 'a. hermetically closable container of the kind specified, a container body and a closure member forthe same, one of said members presenting a plug to enter, a cavity of the other member, said members presenting cooperating flanges, an annular jointing ring of elastic material and having its outer periphery of less diameter than the plug, said jointing ring being tightly stretched around said plug adjacent its respective flange and being of such form as to be com-' pressed and deformed between said flanges when said cover member is pressed down upon said body member, whereby to form a channel-shaped packing between said flanges'upon said plum 11. A hermetically sealed sheetrni'etal can and'cover, said'can having an outstanding external beaolwith a horizontaltop surface, said can havinga portion extending upwardly from said horizontal surface; said cover having a depending skirt adapted to it closely over said upwardly extending portion, and presenting an outstanding flange having a horizontal bottom surface opposite said can bead; and a jointing ring of compressible and elastic material located on said upwardly extending can portion be tween said flanges, said ring'bemg forced along said upwardly extending portion of the can by the cover flange, and compressed as a whole between the horizontal surfaces thereof to produce a hermetic closure when the cover is closed down under a vacuum.

12. A hermetically sealed container comprising a body member; a cover member and a jointing ring; one of said members having an outstanding external flange with a horizontal surface, said member also having a barrel-shaped portion extending away from said horizontal surface; said other member having a skirt adapted to fit closely over said barrel-shaped portion and present- 7 ing an outstanding flange having a horilesser diameter than'said portion when free and being stretched oversaid portion during assembly whereby said ring is stretched more at the center plane of said portion than at the end planes so that during com pression the edges of the ring are caused to move along said portion while the central portion is caused to move away therefrom.

13. The method of establishing a seal between an internal member havin an out standing flange and an externa member havinga surface corresponding and parallel to said flange, by means of a thin wide elastic sealing member of lesser diameter than said internal member, which comprises stretching said sea-ling member and placing it over said internal member, maintaining said sealing member of greater diameter at its center plane than at its end planes, and compressing said sealing member between said surface and flange so that the ends of said sealing member are brought together to form said sealing member into'a channel-shaped ring.

14. In a hermetically closable container of the kind specified, a container member and a closure member for the same, one of said members presenting a plug to enter a cavity of the other member, said first memher having an outwardly extending horizontal'flange, said other member having a flat horizontal flange thereon'produced by formand elastic material located on said plug and compressed between said flanges to produce a hermetic closure when said members are closed together under a vacuum.

15. The method of making a sheet metal container member having a flat horizontal flange adjacent its open end and adapted to compress a sealing ring, which comprises forming a head in the wall of the member,

and thereafter flattening said bead between 16. The method of sealing a hermetically closed container member and a cover member for the same, one of said members fittin inside the other and each having a ra Ially projecting flange, by means of an elastic sealing element, which consist-sin stretching said elastic element around the inner of said closure members, whereby to increase the periphery of the elastic element and maintain it in position on saidmember, compressing said stretched element axially between the flanges, and maintaining said element peripherally stretched and axially compressed.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto signed my name this 10th day of November, 1925.

GEORGE HERBERT BENNETT. 

